With the guidance of Union Gap School Superintendent, Union Gap was the second
town to join the Rural County Library District in 1946. The library's first quarters
were a twelve foot square building donated by Mr. And Mrs. Herbert Baker. The building
had originally been a business called "The Nimble Nickel." The volunteer fire
department moved the building to the corner of Franklin and First Street, behind
Baker's Market. The Welfare Association (Civic Betterment) furnished, decorated, and
maintained the building. On opening day, February 1, 1946, a whopping 100 of the 350 books
were checked out.
The library moved 3 times between 1946 and 1966. In the 50's, the library was moved into
the former City Hall. Book shelves were built into the former council room. The vault
served as a work and storage room, and the children's books were housed in the old jail cell!
In the early 1960's, circulation growth again brought a need for more space. The Library
Board and Civic Betterment members rallied the community with their "Get our Kids out of Jail" plea. With federal grants and local matching funds, a new library was built and opened on March 14, 1966.
Since its last move, the library has continued to grow and change, providing Internet and
other computer services, and the latest in books, magazines, CDs, videos, and DVDs.
For a more complete history, ask to see the publication, Union Gap Library 1946-1996,
a look at the first fifty years.